Pickles the Dog: How an unlikely hero saved the World Cup
Who was Pickles the Dog? In 1966, this unlikely hero sniffed out the stolen Jules Rimet Trophy – and became one of football's most famous animals.
Image: Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo
In the spring of 1966, England was preparing to host the biggest football tournament in the world. The 1966 FIFA World Cup was just months away, and excitement was building across the country.
At the centre of it all was the famous Jules Rimet Trophy, the gold-plated prize that would be awarded to the tournament’s winner. It had been put on public display at Westminster Central Hall in London as part of a stamp exhibition, allowing fans to see one of football’s most treasured objects up close.
But on 20th March 1966, something almost unthinkable happened. Despite being guarded, the trophy vanished. It had been stolen in broad daylight. Sky HISTORY tells the unlikely story of how England's most embarrassing footballing moment was resolved not by Scotland Yard, but by a dog named Pickles.
A national embarrassment
The disappearance caused immediate panic. This was not just any object. The World Cup trophy was a symbol of the tournament itself, and its loss was a major embarrassment for organisers and authorities.
Police launched a full-scale investigation. Scotland Yard became involved, and the case quickly attracted intense media attention. Headlines across the country demanded answers. How could such a high-profile object simply disappear?
A ransom note soon arrived, demanding £15,000 for the safe return of the trophy. Police arranged a controlled meeting with a man who called himself “Jackson” and claimed to be involved in the theft. The man, later identified as Edward Betchley, was arrested.
But there was a problem. Betchley did not have the trophy. Despite the arrest, the most important piece of the puzzle remained missing.
The search continues
With the tournament drawing closer, the pressure grew. Investigators searched parks, buildings and waterways. Officers followed leads across London, but nothing brought them closer to recovering the trophy.
Behind the scenes, contingency plans were even being discussed. A replica trophy was quietly commissioned in case the original could not be found in time. It was a practical solution, but also a sign of just how serious the situation had become.
For days, the mystery deepened. The trophy had vanished without a trace. Then, in an unexpected twist, the breakthrough came not from the police, but from a dog named Pickles. What are the chances?
How Pickles the Dog saved the World Cup
The discovery happened on 27th March 1966, just a week after the theft. A man named David Corbett was walking his black-and-white dog, Pickles, in South London.
As they passed a parked car, Pickles began sniffing at a suspicious-looking package wrapped in a newspaper and tied with string. Curious, Corbett encouraged the dog to investigate further. Inside the package was something astonishing.
It was the missing World Cup trophy.
Corbett could hardly believe what he was seeing. He took the package home briefly before contacting the police, who quickly confirmed that the trophy was genuine. After days of uncertainty and mounting tension, the Jules Rimet Trophy had been found, lying unnoticed in a suburban street.
A nation celebrates a dog
The story of Pickles quickly captured the public’s imagination. At a time when the country had been gripped by worry and embarrassment, the idea that a family pet had solved the mystery felt almost unbelievable. Pickles became an overnight sensation.
He appeared in newspapers and on television and even attended official events. Later that year, he was invited to the celebratory dinner following England’s World Cup victory, where he enjoyed scraps under the table alongside players.
Pickles was rewarded with a £5,000 prize, a substantial sum at the time, as well as a year’s free dog food. His owner, David Corbett, also received widespread recognition, though he often joked that it was Pickles who deserved all the credit.
For many, the dog became an unlikely national hero.
What happened next?
Despite the recovery of the trophy, the full story of the theft was never completely resolved.
Edward Betchley, the man arrested during the ransom attempt, was convicted of handling stolen goods and served time in prison. However, he never revealed who had stolen the trophy, and the identity of the original thief remains unknown.
The tournament itself went ahead without further incident. In July 1966, England defeated West Germany 4–2 in the final at Wembley Stadium.
The story of Pickles the Dog's unbelievable story is told in the second series of Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo.
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